Welcome to the Beginner's Class

Lesson 5

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Goals for this lesson

• Split Ring

• Split Chain

• Mock Picot

• Lock Stitch

• Climbing out

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Split Rings

What is a split ring? This is a special kind of ring where the threads start at one end of a ring and exit at another spot on the ring (usually, but not always, the opposite end of the ring). Split rings will have 2 halves, a first half (made the way one normally makes a ring) and a second half made just a little bit differently.

Split rings are used either as:

 

• Design elements (just because they are pretty in the design that way)

• Bridging elements to get the threads out from an inner round to an outer round without stopping to tie and cut the threads.

  Split rings are usually noted in patterns as SR, with the first half separated from the second half by a "/". For instance a split ring of 5-5/5-5 is a split ring of 5 ds, picot, 5 ds on each side.

   

  Split ring for Needle

  Needle tatters, as usual you have it easy.

  First step: make the first half by casting on stitches as normal on the pointed end of your needle.

  To make the second half of your split ring, unthread your needle turn it until the eye end is facing the way your pointed end would do, then cast on the stitches for the second half of the ring onto the eye end using the thread end. Remember, since you have turned the work over, cast on the second half of the double stitch first then the first half of the double stitch second.

  Rethread your needle, and pull the needle through the stitches as usual to close the ring.

  Video Demonstration

   

  Split Ring for Shuttle

  For illustration purposes, start with 2 Shuttles wound with different color threads. Knot the two shuttle threads together.

  With Shuttle 1, begin a ring of 6 double stitches. Do not close. Keep the work on your left hand, and lay down shuttle 1.

  Put the knot between your thumb and index finger. Rotate your hand so your palm is facing upward. Pick up the shuttle 2 and make the second half of the double stitch on the thread between your pinch and pinky.

  DO NOT "FLIP" THE STITCH. These stitches should remain the color wound on shuttle 2. For tensioning, just slide the loop along until it rests up against the knot.

  Next make the first half of the double stitch, again on the thread between your pinch and pinky. Do not flip. Tension as before. One double stitch made.

  Continue in this manner until you have made 6 double stitches. Lay down shuttle 2 and pick up shuttle 1. Pull the ring closed using shuttle 1.

  You now have a two colored ring with both threads coming out of the top. Congratulations!

We have several video demonstrations on split rings using a shuttle. However for today's purpose we will share the most common method called the dead spider method. 

Jane Eborall's Split Ring Demonstration

Video Demonstration

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Exercise for Split Ring

Make 5 split rings 5-5/5-5, one right after the other. The result will look like ooooo. Try this with 2 different colored threads tied together, one color from shuttle 1 (ball), another for shuttle 2 (the needle).

 

Split Chains

The split chain is a useful technique.

Not only can you use it for climbing out to the next round, but you can also use it to cover bare threads anywhere (or other bare things for that matter).

Rather than try to explain what many others have illustrated well, we refer you to the following links.

 

With the Needle

Video Demonstration

 

With the Shuttle

Shuttle tatters may find it easier to try out the shuttle and thread movements on something rigid (like a pencil or one side of a big safety pin) instead of a bare thread at first.

 

• Split Chain the Fast and Easy Way Jane Eborall's illustration of Marie Smith's split chain methodology.

  Original Method Jane Eborall's Illustration

• The Split Chain by Georgia Seitz, one of the lessons from the first year of the on-line class

• Video Demonstration

 

 

Working Tips for Split Chains

1. Split chains are almost always followed by a mock picot before making the next element. This mock picot is needed to provide symmetry with all the other repeats in the round just finish and the following round.

2. Make sure your lock join is tight (pull closed toward the direction the chain will be worked). The join may settle some during working of the split chain (particularly for shtuttle tatters).

3. Shuttle tatters: The bare thread will lengthen as you work your split chain. This is not just the effect of loosening mock picot, but also the pulling on the thread for tensioning. So when beginning the split chain, always leave a smaller bare thread than length of chain desired. You can almost always add in in a few more ds's when you think you're out of core thread, but you can't add more core thread (without taking out the whole thing).

 

Climbing Out

Remember last week's cliff hanger, homework Square from Anna Valeire Book #3? Some of you may have left the shuttles still connected, but the last chain not done. After this discussion above, can you now see what you must do?

Shuttle tatters: chain 3 ds, tension, leave bare thread space just shorter than 3 ds and lock join to the 1st ring of the round (split ring). Make the split chain back to the middle, mock picot, and split ring up to the last round.

Needle tatters: chain 3ds, slide it off, tension; unthread and reposition needle, chain 3 ds over eye end; poke needle eye into the base of first ring, thread the needle and pull it through. Needle thread will meet the ball thread in the middle, ready for the next split ring (after the mock picot).

 

Covering Rings

Other interesting ways to use the split chain technique is to cover rings, such asin this pattern: Happy Christmas Tatters by Rosemarie Peel (same author as the heart with lock joins). I guarantee after you make ds's like this all the way around a cabone ring, it will take a long time to forget how to do it (and a short time to review later if you do!).

Needle tatters can do it using their needle like the shuttle tatters use their shuttle. So don't forget to bookmark Marie's method.

We've put some more patterns in the homework section for both uses of split chains.

 

Patterns for Practice

Square from Anna Valeire Book #3
Do the first 2 rounds only. Finish off as 2 rounds only if you like, or stop short of the last chain and hold aside for Lesson 5.

Katia's Fan. Make this and you won't soon forget how to make split chains!

TARDIS Bookmark. Many split rings, floating rings, some chains and a tiny split chain.

SSSR snowflake

Ringtrim. Small dragon with both single shuttle split rings and split rings.